In the southern portion of the Highland Lakes, you’ll find the Lights Spectacular in Johnson City. This awesome display at the Pedernales Electric Cooperative headquarters includes 1.2 million LED lights around mature oak trees, creating a truly “electric” experience.

In Llano’s Badu Park is Starry, Starry Nights. The lights illuminate the park and the Llano River.

In Marble Falls, nearly 2 million lights and over 100 sculptures illuminate Lakeside Park at the Walkway of Lights. Santa even makes appearances on weekends to visit with boys and girls.

Burnet County shows off its county courthouse in Burnet with lights on the square. The annual Christmas on the Square includes a parade and vendors then the lighting of the courthouse. You can still see the lights every evening as you stroll along downtown businesses.

In Granite Shoals, you can walk through the ever-growing Christmas by the Highway display just off the Phillips Ranch Road and RR 1431 intersection.

For some old-world Christmas, or Weihnachten, visit Fredericksburg for the lighting of a 26-foot pyramid and a German-themed Christmas tree. An outdoor ice staking rink offers a unique winter activity you don’t see anywhere else in the Highland Lakes.

Along with numerous Christmas lights displays, other holiday events include fun in the snow and opportunities to step back in time 100 years, or 2,000 years.

Visit the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site as well as the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park for Christmas traditions from the childhood and adult life of President Johnson.

Volunteers offer a glimpse of frontier life during the holidays at Fort Croghan in Burnet. Christmas at Old Fort Croghan takes visitors back to the 1800s with Christmas carols, hot apple cider, and homemade cookies.

To go even farther back in time, two reenactments take a look at the time of Jesus’ birth. TFirst United Methodist Church of Johnson City presents its annual Living Christmas Story, complete with live animals and a nativity scene.

The “town” of Bethlehem comes alive two weekends in December in Burnet, where people travel from all over to visit Main Street Bethlehem.

For more contemporary fun, kids can play in the snow in early December during Llano Snow Day or at Johnson City’s Hill Country Science Mill at its snow day event.

Visit our online events calendar for a full schedule of holiday happenings or pick up a free copy of The Picayune published every Wednesday. If you know or see a great Christmas display in your neighborhood, send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.